Camping Gears – Going Light

Outdoor camping gear was actually intended for use on mountaineering expeditions where brutal winds , bitter cold, and remote places demand that equipment be pretty much bombproof. Very few of us take our tools to these demanding limits, however, and our sour feet, bruised shoulders, and aching lower kicks – all from carrying weighty packs through the wilderness – could do with less engineering.

A number of outdoor-gear makers have started to develop equipment considerably better for shorter trips in the type of summer season conditions in which the majority of us do our hiking and fishing. To test the efficiency and sturdiness of this lightweight equipment, I recently put together a complete outfit and took it on a hike over the Appalachian Trail.

My experiment began with the pack. I chose an Alpenlite Superlite for this test. Sewn from thin Ripstop nylon, it has a reinforced Cordura bottom (where most of the wear occurs) and smaller Fastex buckles and straps than those on a standard backpack. Holding 2600 cubic inches, it was large enough for all my gear except the pad, which was strapped on. The Superlite shaved three pounds from the load that I usually carry on my back.

Likewise, I looked for a sleeping bag that would be warm but also light in weight. This meant choosing a down model over a man-made fiber one. The Marmot Ptarmigan that I took along, rated to about 5°F, saved me another pound. This bag also has a Gore-Tex cover, and I was able to stay dry even when our lean-to’s roof leaked. The pad that complemented my bag was a Therm-A-Rest Ultralite. It was a pound lighter than the open cell model I had been using, and was far more compact when rolled up. In respect to finding a shelter, the choice was clear; a tarp. The Chouinard Pyramid is spacious, stable in the wind, and two to three pounds lighter than a tent with equal room.

I found a very fine stove. The Evernew Pack-In that we used is one of the lightest and most innovative around. It’s really a burner head supported by tripod legs; folded down, it fits in the palm of your hand. It uses Husch Minigas cartridges, which in the 300-ml size burn for three and a half hours. The stove I tested boiled water in five to eight minutes, but it would also simmer well at low settings. The Evernew cut nearly one and a half pounds from the weight of the white-gas stove that I normally take with me.

Food came out of local grocery and health food stores, and by concentrating on dry mixes and carrying no fresh or canned food, we were able to keep our rations to two pounds per person per day.

What did these dozen odd pounds taken from our backs actually mean? Well, we hiked 10 to 13 miles a day, gaining and losing thousands of feet in elevation. By dinnertime my spine felt tired but not fused from the constant Neanderthaloid hunch one adopts when carrying a heavy soft pack. While on the trail I found a spring in my step, and the chance, even on the uphills, to admire the passing views.

How durable is this light gear? Frankly, some of it isn’t as sturdy as standard backpacking equipment. For instance, the Alpenlite pack, made of Ripstop nylon, will not stand being dragged over rocks. However, I’ve used mine for six months now, hiking, mountaineering, and crosscountry skiing, without putting a hole in it. The Marmot sleeping bag I used is every bit as well made as heavier bags, and the Pyramid tarp is as stout as a good tent. The Evernew stove is not designed to support a dutch oven; but it’s good for twoquart camping pots.

Perhaps one of the most important concepts to keep in mind when trying to camp light is that it’s the diligent pairing of a couple of ounces here and there which eventually takes 12 or 1.5 pounds off your back. Conversely, throwing in extras – food, clothing, first-aid items, and so on – quickly builds a load that may enhance your character but certainly not your fun.